Electric trolling motor for Puget Sound bottomfishing?

[CanAm]

Hi. I'll be putting a bowmounted electric trolling motor on a 20' Duckworth I'm setting up for local lake fishing in North Idaho. I plan to do some trips to the coast, starting with bottomfishing in the sound and wonder if the electric troller would get any use there. If so I would go with the more spendy salt water version (Minn Kota Riptide). They make a system that uses GPS to hold a position etc. I know the electric trollers are used a lot on the flats over east, just not sure if conditions in the sound, bays (more wave action I presume) would make it feasable.

Anyone using them or see them in use?

[fishseeker]

Have seen them used, but you would be a lot better off with a reg. kicker motor on the back. With a kicker if something happens to your main you can still get in! Sucks to be floating in the shipping lanes in the sound trying to fight the tides with the Electric!!

[billfishn]

I would recommend a 6 to 9 hp 2 stroke or 4 stroke for your boat on the sound.  You should be able to get a good used one for a reasonable price.

[CanAm]

Sorry guys I should have let you know I have a 9.9 kicker with navimatic already. I want the electric for bass fishing and just wondered if it could be put to use on the ocean. I'll have to spend a fair bit more (around $1300) for a saltwater version which only comes with a 60" shaft in the top end model and they don't come with a built in transducer, something that would be kinda nice for a second bow mount finder.

I think I'll go with it. The boat control is just so much better and surely there will be calm enough conditions at least some of the time. If nothing else, the electronics may last longer even on freshwater as they are better protected to resist corrosion. It will look a little weird as they are white and you don't see that around here but that's OK.

[The Peddler]

I think it's worth it to have the salt version, even if you just use it in Fresh water.  I used to work for MotorGuide, and know that the salt water versions from both manufacturers are better sealed, and typically last longer.  FWIW.